Cheese from largest US raw milk distributor linked to E coli outbreak

Raw cheddar cheese from Raw Farm, the nation's largest raw milk distributor based in California, has been identified by the FDA as the "likely source" of E coli O157:H7 infections affecting people in California, Florida, and Texas. The outbreak strain sickened multiple individuals across the three states, though notably, no Raw Farm products have tested positive for the pathogen itself. Raw milk cheeses carry inherent contamination risks because the milk is not pasteurized, a heat treatment that kills harmful bacteria. The FDA's likely-source designation suggests epidemiological evidence — such as patient interviews about food consumed — points to the cheese despite negative test results, which can occur when contamination is unevenly distributed in a product or has degraded. The case underscores ongoing food safety concerns around raw milk products, which have been linked to several outbreaks in recent years.